Rogers and Spencer (Euroarms)

[Old Dragoon]

Check Antiqueguns.com, Gunbroker and Auction Arms, GunsAmerica.com and others olnline. Antiqueguns .com has some really nice Rogers & Spencers from time to time.

Yours is an early one, possibly/probably before the Army Contract of 5000, delivered Jan 1865 thru Sept. 1865. All were too late for issue in the Civil War. the were warehoused. Most of the 5000 were bought from Army by Bannerman in 1901, but a few were sold commercially as well. bannerman's invoice do not account for all 5000 either, 4,982 or so, but not 5000.


I have an original R & S that is S/N 5365 and has been converted to 44 Henry Rim Fire. This is a very professional conversion and unique in the fact that it uses a floating firing pin to fire the Rim Fire Cartridges. In 30 plus years of collecting guns, and handling numerous conversions, this is the very first conversion that I have ever seen that uses the floating firing pin to fire rim fire cartridges. Most just used the flat of the hammer that fired the caps, modified to fire the Rim fire cartridges. It also in not in the good shape that the Bannerman guns are usually found in. Most Bannerman guns are in excellent shape. Mine has a lot of pitting. It was found in Del Rio TX and is believed to have went through the Mexican revolution.

Post some Pictures of your family gun, we'd love to see it.

 

[Riot Earp]

mec,

Thanks. I'm not expecting Rockwell numbers, just general observations.

That's good that the hammer is hard. I know that Uberti and Pietta use relatively soft steels in their C&B guns, and so I was wondering about Euroarms. On Ubertis and Piettas, the cylinders tend to get chewed up in short order if the timing isn't perfect. And even if the timing is right, over the long haul the notches take a beating. And the screws are often, well ... less than stout.

 

[mec]

Not sure, but things may have gotten better. It's been a long time since I've had a Uberti screw crumble away while being tightened. The trigger/bolt springs are lasting longer too.

 

[Snaggletooth]

For the first time..

I shot my Rogers and Spencer. I have never enjoyed the shooting experience as much. I purchased a used one, so I cant speak for one that hasnt been used. No cap problems, the tightest groups that Ive ever shot at 50 yds, no hang fires, just a joyous day with alot of smoke. Thanks MEC for putting me on to the R&S.

 

[Desert Scorpion]

Hey Mec!!! Where did you obtain the information regarding the extra 800 R&S Pistols being made. This really intriges me, if it is true then that means some of these fine pistols may have seen some old western action; seems true since Old Dragoon has one serial # over 5000. Does anyone know where the military stored the 5000 R&S's too. Email me more info at [email protected] Thanks

 

[mec]

I did it by google search and what I found seemed feasible. A guy detailed an R&S that had papers inside the grip indicating that it belonged to a union soldier in some northeastern state army unit. He brough up the additional non contract guns.

Here it is:
http://www.antiquearmsinc.com/rogers-spencer-revolver.htm

 

[Desert Scorpion]

Wow!!! Mec thank you that helped me out. Obviously some were used during the Civil War and after. So it would seem at least 800 of these guns were sold to soldiers or the general Civilian Public. Very neat. I was holding off buying one because of there being no real historical significance, but now I want one and will be ordering one within the month. Thanks for info Mec.

 

[Old Dragoon]

Mec,
That soldier could not have had that gun from the dates of his service as the first R & S's weren't made until 1864 and the Government contract was started in 1865 and all delivered to the Army by Sept 1865. The army would not sign another contract with them and so they did build some for civilian sale. Thpought to have been made of from exting, or over run, parts.
The Conversion I have is thought to have been carried in the Mexican revolution and it's coming from Del Rio TX makes that quite likely. A lot of 44 Henry Rim Fire Arms made it to Mexico before and during that revolution.

 

[mec]

The idea that some of them got out during the "percussion era" rather than as curiosities in 1901 still makes them more interesting.

 

[Desert Scorpion]

I agree!! to know some got out into the fighting of the old west does really change the way you look at the gun.

 

[Riot Earp]

mec, you might be right about the quality going up. I handled a Uberti forged frame Remington a while back. It blew my mind. The fit and finish was noteworthy and the timing was perfect. I couldn't test the steel or the screws, but the frame seemed stout. Best Remington I've ever handled. Needless to say, I'm ordering one.

 

[Snaggletooth]

Somewhere in my recall, it seem that the R&S was used in the Moro insurection. It seemed the revolver used was going through the Moros. One was reportedly hit 7 times and still cut off the leg of an American officer. The R&S was brought into the barrle because of its lower muzzle velosity and increased stopping power. At the time the Army was working on the .45 with its 850 fps and stopping power. I could be wrong about this but its stuck in my memory from my Marine Corps days.

 

[mohctep]

Very Cool Pics.Thanks for sharing them.

 

[Smokeless Coal]

Hi guys, we can still have muzzle loaded pistols in the UK and a lot of us have revolvers. I enjoy my R&S. firing it every week.

I have been experimenting with conicals but so far have not matched the accuracy of round ball. I always use 777 as its far easier to clean up. All my shooting is 25m and I am managing 4" groups now with ball but only 8" with conicals.

Getting a lot of instances of the cap not going on first strike so I am thinling the hammer spring may have gotten weak.

 

[Smokeless Coal]

There is a trend over here to convert m/l revolvers to use nitro.
http://www.westlakeengineering.com/4640/4694.html
Is obviously cleaner and not smokey.

Some are converting to cartridge but our restrictions insist on barrels ove 12" and over 24" total. We get over the 24" by fitting a "wrist brace" made out of steel rod.
We cant convert a regular pistol as they are banned but m/l revolvers are not banned so we can mess around with them. The Buckmark carbine can also be cut down as well or we can build from scratch as long as it fits the rules.